Capacity Building: FG to Partner Red Cross

The Minister of Interior, Lt. Gen. Adbulraman Dambazau (Rtd), has assurance of the Ministry’s willingness to partner with the Red Cross Society of Nigeria to build the capacity of its staff on disaster management, in order to provide adequate and skilled personnel during crisis situations in the country.
He said that the training will add value to the ministry’s mandate which includes the management of national emergencies, especially as it has its personnel from the paramilitary agencies at every nooks and crannies of the nation to render assistance to victims of disasters when they occur anywhere within the country.
The minister made the assertion yesterday, when he received the executive members of the Society, led by its National President, Elder Bolaji Anawi, in his Office in Abuja.
He noted that crisis situation are part of human existence and therefore, the need for experienced personnel to meet the need of the vulnerable at such moments cannot be overemphasized.
He further commended the selfless role played by the Society which he described as humanitarian, devoid of religious, tribal and class differences; stressing that a focal officer will be appointed by the ministry to ensure improved liaison between it and the Society.
Earlier, the National President of the Society, Elder Bolaji Anawi, called for renewed collaboration between the organization and the ministry for increased provision of humanitarian services in the country.
He said the Red Cross Society is the largest community-based humanitarian organization in Nigeria, with about 800,000 members and trained volunteers in all the states of the federation.
He added that as a result of its spread, the organisation is quick to respond anytime there was crisis in the country, as it was constantly on ground to provide immediate assistance to the vulnerable in their time of distress.